FILE - In this Sept. 3, 2009 file photo, New England Patriots defensive end Richard Seymour (93) sits on the bench during a preseason NFL football game against the New York Giants in Foxborough, Mass. Seymour, a five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman, has been traded from the New England Patriots to the Oakland Raiders, giving the rebuilding franchise a veteran stalwart up front. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson, file)

The price is high for a player who will turn 30 this season, his ninth in the league, and has a recent history of knee and back problems. Seymour's contract expires after this season, so there remains the chance he can be a one-and-gone.

For the Raiders, those are concerns for another day. They needed defensive help up front ASAP. Their preseason run defense was 32nd in the NFL, and has stunk since 2006. The season opener against the Chargers is eight days away.

This is the most instant fix they could find.

"We knew we needed to help the team if possible," said coach Tom Cable, who had yet to speak with Seymour. "This gives us a real key piece."

Seymour will start at right defensive end in hopes of holding the edge against the run - just as he did in the Patriots' 3-4 defense.

At 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds, Seymour will move to defensive tackle as a third-down pass rusher - just as he did in his first two NFL seasons, when the Patriots ran the 4-3 scheme used by the Raiders.

"We're going to get it fixed right now," middle linebacker Kirk Morrison said of the run defense. "He's going to be the answer for it."

The move allows second-year right end Trevor Scott to go back to what he did best last season: be a third-down pass-rush specialist.

Seymour can also spell defensive tackles Gerard Warren and Tommy Kelly, who often needed breathers in long drives during the preseason.

Just as important, Seymour brings winning experience to a locker room with little of it. He was a key figure in the Patriots' three Super Bowl championships and made five straight Pro Bowls from 2002-06.

"All the Super Bowl rings ... that's a quality that we don't have right now," left defensive end Greg Ellis said.

The Raiders can only hope this works out better than other recent blockbuster trades.

Last year, they got Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall for second- and fifth-round picks, then cut him after eight lousy games.

In 2005, they got Vikings receiver Randy Moss for a No. 7 overall pick and a former first-rounder, then traded him after two uninspired seasons.

The Raiders released defensive tackle William Joseph to make roster room for Seymour.

Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly can't imagine this latest trade not helping. After all, what could make their run defense any worse?